Biography

Ruston Webster is in his third season as general manager after being elevated to the role on Jan. 18, 2012. The previous two seasons he served as the team’s vice president of player personnel.

This past offseason saw noteworthy changes in the organization. Webster’s leadership was significant in spearheading a coaching search that led to the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt. A number of key veterans were added to the roster through free agency, including RB Dexter McCluster, LB Wesley Woodyard, LB Shaun Phillips and T Michael Oher; and the draft brought building block players like T Taylor Lewan and RB Bishop Sankey.

The 2013 offseason he oversaw a free agency period that brought veteran talent and leadership to an already talented, but young roster. A total of 17 free agents were added to the roster to boost competition and add to the depth of the roster, including G Andy Levitre, RB Shonn Greene, DT Sammie Hill, TE Delanie Walker, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, S Bernard Pollard, S George Wilson, DL Ropati Pitoitua and LB Moise Fokou. Each of these veteran players played significant roles for the 2013 team. In the draft he continued to reshape the roster as the offensive line was bolstered with Chance Warmack and Brian Schwenke and the team also added playmaker WR Justin Hunter.

In his first offseason as general manager, Webster addressed several areas of the team through free agency, the NFL Draft and building continuity with long-term deals for core players. During the free agency period, the team added seven-time Pro Bowl G Steve Hutchinson and DE/LB Kamerion Wimbley. Speed and athleticism were added to the roster with the first-round selection of WR Kendall Wright and throughout the remainder of the draft. Prior to free agency opening in March, TE Craig Stevens signed a long-term deal and over the summer S Michael Griffin and CB Jason McCourty also signed extensions.

Prior to his arrival in Tennessee in 2010, Webster gained 22 years of personnel experience split between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his four years in Seattle, Webster was the vice president of player personnel and oversaw the day-to-day management of the pro personnel and college scouting departments. Upon the departure of Tim Ruskell in December 2009, Webster was named interim general manager until John Schneider was hired to fill that role in January 2010.

Webster spent 18 years with Tampa Bay in a variety of roles, including the director of player personnel (2005), director of college scouting (2001-04), director of pro personnel (1989-91) and regional college scout (1988, Northeast; 1992, South; 1993, Midwest; 1995-2000, Southwest). He was a part of the front office staff that helped build the Super Bowl XXXVII Champion Buccaneers in 2002.

Webster started his career as a college coach with stops as a graduate assistant at Southwestern Louisiana (1985), Alabama (1986) and Tulsa (1987).

A native of Madison, Miss., Webster earned his college degree at the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Gayle, have a daughter, Hannah, and two sons, Jacob and Drew.